Life's A Drag... Down Under S4, Steps & Michelle Visage!

Lazy Susan stole the show? Drag Race Down Under's fourth season changed the game with silliness and a rather sketchy Snatch Game! Yes, Lazy Susan brought it to the runway, in the most gag-worthy way! STEPS will away be British pop music icons, never a 'Tragedy!' Canada's 5th season impressed me! Mama Ru's best Judy, Michelle Visage will always be a true NJ icon! 

No Mama Ru? Yes, 'Drag Race Down Under' gained a new host and head judge for the fourth season. 'Michelle Visage' put on her big girl trousers to become the new 'Mother of the Doll Haus!' I knew from the start that Michelle would an be amazing replacement for Mother Ru, it was a natural fit. 'Vybe' bought camp and a kitsch orange moment to the 'Double Down' runway concept! 'Freya Armani' bought a different flavour to the 'Down Under' race with her dramatic American connection! 'Nikita Iman' served 'fa'afafine Realness' on the runway, breaking a new Samoan dawn! Doing the least but bringing the most, 'Lazy Susan' crushed the competition with her genius everything! 'Mandy Moobs' did Brisbane proud! With her busty style and winning nature, 'Brenda Bressed' did her best 'Kath & Kim' impression down at the 'Snatch Game!' 'Karna Ford' brought a slice of 'Pinoy Pride' to the Down Under race! 'Lucina Innocence' presented looks but for me, she faded into the background. Down Under brought the drama, M! 

Need I be so rude, 'Olivia Dreams' sashayed away much too soon! Whereas, 'Max Drag Queen, I can see her on a future 'Vs The World' incarnation for certain! Several challenges faced these 'Down Under' queens, the same set remained and really they deserved better production but I was there for every bumpy yet fabulous moment! The 'Mr. Right Or Mr. Right Now' maxi challenge gave a loving nod to the dearly departed Grease Aussie icon, 'Olivia Newton John'. 'The Rhys Roast' allowed the Down Under queens to let their humour and shade rip and roar, it was chaotic! It was a great concept to welcome back numerous Down Under alumni into the Werk Room and onto the judging panel. It is high time that Down Under receives her flowers, I feel the addition of 'Michelle' as the new captain gave the franchise a new energy! Give this Oceanic franchise their own 'AllStars' or 'Vs The World' and a consistent tour for the girls to shine! I can't wait for Season 5 to be announced, we need to see more 'First Nations' drag! Yes!

As a child, there was no doubt in my mind that 'STEPS' stood as one of my favourite pop groups! I will never forget the first time I saw the video for '5, 6, 7, 8' because it was right up my street, it was camp! From 'Tragedy' to 'Deeper Shade of Blue', I lived for their quirky music videos that were accompanied by legendary moves to boot! STEPS dominated the late 90s without a doubt, they were on every breakfast show at the weekends and on Top Of The Pops regularly as well. I was lucky enough to see STEPS in-concert one time and hand on heart, it was one of the best shows of my childhood! I remember their reality series they made, back then it was all the rage and only available on VHS! I remember pestering my mom to make Claire's tagliatelle pasta, it was a highlight for me to try for myself! Nothing lasts forever, STEPS disbanded on Boxing Day 2001 to their fans dismay! A rivalry was growing in the camp? H & Claire reformed as a duo for a short period of time, they maintained a certain presence. It was the last 'Summer Of Love!' Oh!

Wounds had cut deep and the band stayed silent for one whole decade since their 2001 split until a documentary series was premiered on British television. 'STEPS Reunion' brought the dramas of their break up to the forefront as the band healed old wounds before they nervously embarked on their 2012 reunion tour. To no surprise, that first reunion saw STEPS reignite what made us love them in the first place with a whole new energy added to bring their audience to present day tastes. STEPS returned twice before they released 'Scared Of The Dark', this punchy and kitsch hit was a clever move for the band. During the depths of the Pandemic, 'STEPS' welcomed 'Drag Race' legend, 'Michelle Visage' onto 'Heartbreak In This City' as COVID restrictions stopped 'Lisa Scott Lee' from entering the UK from Dubai. 'Here & Now' is the new musical that has been fashioned with 'STEPS's collection, starring 'Drag Race UK' star, 'River Medway' as 'Jem'. Who knows 'What The Future Holds' for STEPS? The pasta tasted delicious! 

Eleven Canadian queens stormed into the Werk Room for the fifth season of 'Canada's Drag Race!' A former pit crew competed as a queen? Yes! This season served 'Trans Excellence' with three Transgender contestants present, one being Two Spirit! Did another 'Couture' make an appearance in the cast? Yes, Mother Icesis brought her daughter back to the ball! The 'Golden Beaver' returned, making its way onto the main season, not hogging the limelight for the 'Vs The World' seasons. It was magic to see 'Sarain Fox' as a rotating judge, I'd like to see her instead of Brad but us mere fans don't have that power to change such a thing. No shade, Brad! 'Go Off Queen' was chaotic, eleven queens needed to write their own verses but it was a lot to digest! The 'PSA's' were hilarious, some teams gelled better than others, it made for good viewing! The 'Slay Offs' pushed the queens to lip sync for their place in the competition for sure! It was amazing to see the queens make outfits for 'Brooke Lyn Hytes' to wear, such a creative concept! Oh, Venus! 

Trans Indigenous representation was served by 'Jaylene Tyme', she informed us about the 60s scoop! 'Minhi Wang' brought Chinese-Australian references to the runway, bringing a gym-bod to die for! 'Tara Nova' proved herself, making her mark as a local queen from 'St. John's' in 'Newfounland & Labrador!' 'Uma Gahd' became the only 'Québecois' queen from Montreal. 'Xana' had some nerve, she really didn't impress one queen as the final loomed, her attitude was a choice! 'Sanjina Dabish Queen' fought her dysphoria and brought her Fijian Bollywood fire! 'Tiffany Ann Co.' served killer lip-sync after lip-sync and did the most in the Werk Room! 'Helena Poison' stayed true to her grunge energy, giving the race something we hadn't seen since Season 1! 'Perla' went far but I think we might see her return! 'Makayla Couture' turned up the heat with her 'Island Gyal' vibes, she slayed every challenge! Snatching the crown was 'The Virgo Queen', from start to finish she put in the work to be crowned the fifth winner! Come on, S Six! 

Michelle Visage is a mother, singer, vogue artist, judge, icon and the best friend of the world's most famous Drag Queen, RuPaul! I first got to know Michelle's work when she replaced 'Merle Ginsberg' on Season 3 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race', it was just the beginning for most of us to meet Ms. Visage! After reading part of her autobiography, 'The Diva Rules' I found that Michelle always loved the quirks and cultures of the United Kingdom! Michelle, if you ever read this, I will promise to finish the book but I am a terrible reader! Michelle keeps it 100% on all four of the Drag Race franchises that she judges and mentors queens from 'Down Under', 'AllStars', 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and the 'British' version. Michelle loves Ru and Ms. Charles loves her best Judy right back, 'New Friends Silver, Old Friends Gold' must be their song? I am sure! Michelle's career has been elevated by Drag Race immensely but this powerhouse of a NJ icon was on the radio before she jumped out of contract to join Ru on the panel! It takes two to make a thing go? 

Michelle broke out of her New Jersey cocoon with an opportunity to study in New York City, then she went underground in the best kind of way! Embracing something 'Vogue', Michelle found herself surrounded by the likes of 'Willy Ninja' on the Ballroom season! That's where she met RuPaul! Part of the 'House Of Ninja', she became the first cis-gendered woman to join that house family! Michelle had her band girl moment with success from her time in 'Seduction'. Those early 90s hits were camp! Taking a break from her judging duties, Michelle competed on 'Strictly Come Dancing' during 2019 with her stint concluding with a showstopping rendition of 'Vogue' by 'Madonna' with her Ballroom moves for the BBC audiences to love! Those who didn't get the Ballroom references from Visage's performance needed to go back to school and get an education! Visage is now the host and head judge on 'Drag Race Down Under' a 'Co-Producer' on other seasons in the franchise. A West End performer she has been, just ask 'Jamie' about that!  

Canuck Couture Is Forever! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure